It is recommended to regularly check the front end of your lift truck as part of your pre-shift or daily examination, in order to help prevent expensive lift truck repairs. By catching any problems as they arise or ahead of time, you could also help avoid damage to any type of loads as well. The following includes several of the general guidelines on what specific things to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Regularly inspecting the forks is key because if these are worn out or cracked, they might fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your lift truck should instantly be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once more. Visually check your forks for any visible indications of damage or wear. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any type of wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another indication that you have to replace the forks.
Mast
Ideally, the mast must tilt back and forward and be able to smoothly move up and down. If you find that the sliding surfaces are binding, you might have to grease the mast strip sliding surfaces as well as their fittings. On the inner mast there is a fitting located on each side. The lift bracket side rollers are a different lubrication point and there is also one on every side roller. Once the lubricating has been completed, tilt it forward and backward and also lower and raise the mast a few times in order to make certain that the lubricant is worked into the fittings correctly.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection has to include the checking for damage and oil leaks as an uncontrolled mast movement could be a result of oil leakage. Whether the leaks are external or are situated inside of the cylinder, the end result may be cylinder drift and loss of fluid. If there are any indications of leaks or damage, you might have to replace the whole cylinder assembly, or just the seals.
Chains
Check and make sure that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be certain to inspect the chains for signs of damage or wear using a chain wear gauge. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain looks rusted or kinked. The chain rollers and the sheave bearings must also be checked for indications of wear.
The mast lift chain will normally wear at the pin-to-link connections. You could experience chain failure if you notice wear. This could end up damaging front end components or even the product. If you require help determining what exactly to inspect on your lift trucks or if you do not have time on hand to perform frequent fleet inspections, simply call your local lift truck dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform PM or planned maintenance inspections based on your application requirements and scheduling.